Zubiri: Bill postponing BARMM elections now on final stage

COTABATO CITY – "We, in the Senate, are in the final stages of passing the bill postponing the BARMM elections," Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri announced here in his remarks at the Bangsamoro Governance Summit 2021.

The postponement, according to him, will allow the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to fulfill its mandated duties in achieving elusive peace and prosperity in the Bangsamoro region.

"In shaa Allah, within a month, we will get it done," he added.

Senate Bill No. 2214, a bill that would move the BARMM's first regular elections from 2022 to 2025, was discussed on the second reading in June.

This August, Congress will resume deliberations on the proposed bill.

Once passed into law, the transition period will be extended for another three years. The bill aims to provide enough time for the interim government to accomplish the transition requirements cited in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), including the passage of the six priority legislation.

Three of the six codes—administrative, civil service and education code—were already approved in the Parliament.

Other key measures, such as the local government, electoral, and revenue code, are currently in the appropriate committees and are ready to be presented in the plenary.

“We still need to do a lot more and we need more time. It is along these lines in which strong partnership between the Bangsamoro government and local government units is of high importance,” BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim said.

Ebrahim and Speaker Atty. Ali Pangalian Balindong believed that the promotion of moral governance and priority projects to be implemented within the region can be accomplished in good time.

During this year's governance summit, Zubiri assured the Bangsamoro people that he would provide all the help he can give to the region.

"I am always here as your ally, a fellow Mindanaoan who believes in the just and lasting peace that you are all striving for," he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has voiced his support and admiration for the BTA.

"I, together with President Duterte, will continue to extend our full support to the BARMM as it undertakes endeavors for the Bangsamoro people,"  he stated in his written address to the Bangsamoro read by Sec. Salvador Panelo, chief presidential legal counsel.

"Mahal po namin kayo mga kapatid naming Muslim at Mindanaoan. Hinding hindi namin kayo pababayaan ni Pangulong Duterte, ipaglalaban namin ang inyong mga karapatan at kapakanan upang mabigyan kayo ng mas mapayapa, maginhawa at komportableng buhay para sa inyong komunidad," he added.

(We love our Muslim and Mindanaoans brothers and sisters. We will not forsake you, we will fight for your rights and welfare to give you and your community a more peaceful and comfortable life.) (Publication and Media Relations Division)

 

Water system project in Lanao del Sur nears completion

Cotabato City  – The P2.9-million water system project in Brgy. Buadi-Amaloy Masiu, Lanao del Sur, is now a month away from completion, according to Member of Bangsamoro Parliament Diamila Disimban-Ramos.

Ramos funded the project through her Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF) and it was implemented by the Ministry of Interior and Local Government.

"I'm very very much overwhelmed na binigyan ako ng opportunity to identify ano ang magandang proyekto na dapat sa isang community. And I was able to identify one through your request na kailangan ninyo po ng water system" Ramos said during the groundbreaking ceremony in May.

(I’m very much overwhelmed that I was given the opportunity to identify the appropriate project for a community. And I was able to identify one through your request that you needed a water system.)

She mentioned that water, as a basic need, is necessary for the health and religious practices of the Bangsamoro people, notably when Muslims perform ablution before every Salah or prayer.

The project would not only serve the people in the community but also those who pray in the Grand Mosque Jamaah—the biggest mosque in Masiu, Lanao del Sur.

Grand mosque’s Imam (Muslim religious leader) Ali Nader expressed his gratitude to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, particularly the office of MP Ramos.

According to him, the water system is the best project that the community has received. (Publication and Media Relations Division)

 

BARMM launches Covid vax registration portal

COTABATO CITY—The Bangsamoro Government launched on Monday, Aug. 9, a web portal that will allow its constituents to easily register for Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccination. 

Health Minister Dr. Bashary Latiph said the portal is a result of the collaboration of the members of the Bangsamoro Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid-19.

“This was made to provide a way, an avenue na magkaroon ng magandang approach on the pre-registration for Covid-19 vaccination, para matugunan ang problema in registering to get vaccinated,” Dr. Latiph said.

The website shows updated statistics of the region’s vaccination efforts and Covid-19 cases.

Residents who wish to register may visit https://covid19.bangsamoro.gov.ph.

“The online system means people can submit their details and find out what to expect at their appointment using their devices, with links to further information about the vaccines and the Bangsamoro Government’s rollout program,” Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua said.

Officials of the Bangsamoro Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) on Covid-19 launched the online platform for Covid-19 vaccination registration.

As of Sunday, August 8, the BARMM has fully vaccinated 144,153 individuals—91,282 of them were vaccinated with single dose Janssen vaccine.

“We have successfully conducted vaccination efforts to the priority groups as prescribed by the national government,” Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim said.

All of the region’s 23,351 frontline healthcare workers, or A1 priority group, were vaccinated with their first dose, and 18,508 of them were fully vaccinated.

The province of Sulu has fully vaccinated 42,630 individuals—the highest vaccination rate among the region’s five provinces.

Maguindanao has vaccinated 24,021 individuals, Lanao del Sur with 33,043, Basilan with 24,775, and Tawi-Tawi with 19,689 individuals.

The region has recorded a total of 9,507 Covid-19 cases. It added 13 fresh cases on Sunday, making the active cases statistics at 462.

BARMM shows 8,678 recoveries, or above 90 percent recovery rate. However, there were 367 deaths since March 2020. (Bangsamoro Information Office)

 

 

 

14 states, jurisdictions removed from PH ‘green’ list

 By Ruth Abbey Gita-

MANILA – At least 14 countries and jurisdictions have been removed from the Philippines’ “green” list, Malacañang said on Friday.

The latest development came after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved Thursday the updated list of “green” countries and jurisdictions classified as “low-risk” for the coronavirus disease 2019, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.

“The Inter-Agency Task Force on Thursday, August 12, 2021, approved and updated the list of considered ‘Green’ countries/jurisdictions/territories,” said Roque, who concurrently acts as IATF-EID spokesperson.

Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Dominica, Kosovo, Laos, Marshall Islands, Moldova, North Macedonia, Saba (Special Municipality of the Kingdom of Netherlands), Saint Barthelemy, Singapore, Sint Eustatius, and Togo have been removed, based on the revised roster of “green” states and jurisdictions.

On the other hand, Cameroon and Sudan have been added to the updated list.

The countries and jurisdictions included in the new “green” roster are as follows:

Albania

American Samoa

Anguilla

Australia

Benin

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Brunei

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Cayman Islands

Chad

China

Comoros

Cote d’ Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Djibouti

Equatorial Guinea

Falkland Islands

Gabon

Grenada

Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China)

Hungary

Mali

Federated States of Micronesia

Montserrat (British Overseas Territory)

New Caledonia

New Zealand

Niger

Nigeria

Northern Mariana Islands

Palau

Poland

Romania

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Slovakia

Sudan

Taiwan

The Department of Health has classified the “green” states and jurisdictions as “low-risk countries or jurisdictions based on disease incidence rate.”

The IATF-EID, in its Resolution 128-A issued on July 22, has modified the protocols for fully-vaccinated individuals who can qualify for “green lanes”.

Under IATF-EID Resolution 128-A, fully-vaccinated individuals who can avail of green lanes must meet the four conditions set by the task force to allow them to observe a shorter quarantine period of seven days in an isolation facility.

The arriving passengers must make sure that their port of origin is a “green” country or jurisdiction and they stayed there exclusively in the past 14 days before arriving in the Philippines.

They must also be fully vaccinated, whether in the Philippines or abroad, and their vaccination status can be independently verified by Philippine authorities as valid and authentic upon their arrival in the country.

Fully vaccinated individuals who will be given green lanes are mandated to take a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test on their fifth day in the country.

Even if they yield a negative RT-PCR test, they are still required to complete the seven-day facility-based quarantine. If the RT-PCR test is, however, positive, prescribed isolation protocols must be followed. (PNA)

 

Leader of an armed group, followers, surrender in Maguindanao

CIDG-BAR chief operation witness the ceremonial turn-over in Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao. (Photo by:Mark Navales)

COTABATO CITY -- A leader of a notorious private armed group surrendered on Tuesday along with his followers to authorities in Maguindanao as the central government steps up its crackdown on criminals operating in the region.

Tamano Kamaong Mamalapat, a former Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander, was presented along with his four colleagues to Maj. General Albert Ignatius Ferro, National Director of Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, during his visit to Datu Saudi Ampatuan.

Mamalapat alias Datu Tammy was included in the Director Intelligence watch list. The group was formerly utilized by late Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom as his private army.

Mamalapat, 49, and his companions, Butokan Latip Dodi, Adan Dibalaten, Mamalapat, Toto Bela Bugado, and Abidin Sabang Guimat, also surrendered assorted high-powered firearms that include an M16 Armalite Rifle, one M-79, two M1 Garand rifle and one homemade 50 Caliber barrett.

At the same time, during Ferro's visit to the town, seven weapons returned by locals were also handed over by Datu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor Edris Sindatok during the ceremonial turn-over.

"I am fully committed to supporting the disbandment of private armed groups so that we will achieve peace and development," Sindatok said.

“The program's aim is to recover loose firearms deliberately to pave the way for a peaceful and honest upcoming election and also to encourage other PAG’s members and lawless elements to return into the fold of law to live peacefully in the community together with their respective family”. Ferro said.

Same day, Mayor Bai Leah Sangki turned over on Tuesday afternoon the firearms collected a total of Seven (7) Loose Firearms from unauthorized gun holders in their area during the visit of Maj. General Albert Ignatius Ferro in Ampatuan Municipality in the same province.

CIDG RFU BAR in receiving seven (7) firearms described as follows; two (2) units of Elisco M16A1 assault rifle with defaced serial number, three (3) units of Caliber 30M1 Garand Rifle One (1) unit improvised long firearm no serial number and one (1) unit of Homemade Shotgun without serial number.

Nationwide, around 155 private armed groups operate, of which nearly half are highly active.  The government identifies them as organized groups hired by politicians to intimidate or sow violence against opponents.

These guns-for-hire exist because of long-running gun culture in the Philippines, coupled with the presence of feuding clans in tribal areas as well as rival political dynasties trying to outdo each other. The Philippine Constitution stipulates that private armies and other groups not recognized by a duly constituted authority shall be dismantled.

The group’s surrender was made possible thru the joint efforts of CIDG RFU BAR, PIU Maguindanao, TOG 12, Field Station- Eastern Mindanao 300 Air Intelligence Security Wing, PDEG and Datu Saudi Ampatuan MPS, and local officials in relation to the CIDG Flagship Project OPLAN PAGLALANSAG OMEGA and OPLAN SALIKOP. (Mark Navales)